How will my order be shipped?

Here's how your Forward Education order gets from our warehouse to your school, and what you can do to help it arrive smoothly.

Where we ship

Forward Education ships within the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. If you're outside these countries, visit the Resellers & Partners page on our website or contact us for an international shipping quote. You can find more on our Shipping page.

Which carrier will deliver my order?

The carrier depends on where your order is going and how big it is.

Orders within Canada

We ship Canadian orders with a national carrier. If your shipping address is a PO box, we'll use Canada Post instead, because Canada Post handles PO box deliveries.

Orders within the US

A national carrier ships and delivers all orders within the US..

Orders within the UK

A national carrier ships and delivers all orders within the UK.

Large or bulk orders

Some orders are too large to go as a regular parcel. These ship by freight, also called LTL (short for "less-than-truckload"). Your order travels on pallets in a truck shared with other customers' goods, rather than arriving in a parcel van.

Freight deliveries need a little more planning than parcels. Please allow extra time for them, and keep these points in mind:

Delivery appointments: Freight deliveries may need an appointment. Make sure someone at your school can be there to receive the shipment at that time.
Distance from our warehouse: The further your school is from our warehouse, the longer freight can take to arrive.
Loading dock requirements: Pallets are heavy and bulky. Check with your facilities or receiving team whether your school has a loading dock, and let us know if it doesn't.

How long will delivery take?

We usually process orders within 1 to 2 business days of you placing them (not counting weekends and holidays). After that, standard shipping takes 3 to 7 business days.

Carrier delays, holidays or other things outside our control can sometimes push delivery back. If your kits need to be in the classroom by a certain date, order early to leave yourself a buffer.

How do I track my order?

You'll get a confirmation email once your order has shipped. If you bought from our online store, you should get a tracking number by email within 24 to 48 hours of your order shipping.

How much does shipping cost?

Shipping costs depend on your delivery address. For online orders, go to checkout and enter your shipping address to see the cost before you pay.

If you're paying with a purchase order, email support for a shipping estimate.

Tips for shipping to a school

Use the right address: Schools often have a separate receiving or delivery address. Check with your front office before you order, especially for large orders.
Tell your front office: Let them know a delivery is coming so the boxes reach you and don't sit unopened in a storeroom.
Think about school closures: If your school is closed over a holiday or summer break, there may be no one to accept the delivery. This matters most for freight deliveries that need an appointment.
Keep the original packaging: Hold on to the boxes for at least 30 days. If a part turns out to have a manufacturing defect, you may need them to send it back.

What if something arrives damaged or faulty?

We replace parts that have a manufacturing defect, and we cover the shipping cost for those replacements. You need authorization from our Customer Service team before returning anything. Returns sent without authorization won't be accepted. Our Refund and Returns Policy has the full details.